Fine or custodial sentence for farmer who allowed animals die

A MONAGHAN farmer who was before Judge MacBride at last week's sitting of Clones District Court on six offences of animal cruelty and one offence of permitting a carcass to remain unburied, is likely to be fined §1,500 when the case comes up again in March – but only if he complies with certain requirements in the meantime.

  The defendant, Brian Wright, Killygorman, Newbliss, pleaded guilty to all the offences, which took place on April 20th 2007 at Killygorman.  Evidence was given by Mr Patten, Superintendent Veterinary Inspector in Monaghan, about problems that arose in 2003, when the Department of Agriculture was called out to Mr Wright's farm because of animal welfare problems.

 At that time, about 25 animals were in a distressed state, a number had to be put down on welfare grounds, and about half of Mr Wright's animals weren't tagged.  According to Mr Patten, members of the department helped Mr Wright to get his affairs back in order and, by 2005, he was receiving subsidies again, totalling about §90,000 in 2006 and §40,000 in 2007.  The witness added that it was because of help from his office the defendant wasn't prosecuted.

  However, the defendant, whose elderly mother also has a herd on the farm, subsequently came to the attention of the Department of Agriculture again, when they called out to his farm and found about 12 animals dead on the land.  There were about 350 cattle on the farm and no silage and no housing for them. Mr Patten said he would like to give the defendant a chance.  His department could issue Mr Wright with notice to tag the animals or they could order them for destruction, but Mr Patten didn't wish to pursue this option.  He suggested that certain measures could be taken by the defendant.  The Department had been to visit the farm again two days before the court, and more animals were dead and others were on their way to having welfare problems, said Mr Patten.  Judge MacBride agreed that the photographs were deeply distressing.

  Solicitor for the defendant, Kevin Hickey, gave the court background on the defendant, who holds a Bachelors Degree in Agricultural Science.  The defendant was sworn in and undertook to remove all carcasses of dead animals and have them rendered in accordance with the Department of Agriculture.  Mr Wright also reluctantly agreed to engage in fattening but not breeding animals, although he initially told the court he "had a problem with that".  He also told the court that he would co-operate with any efforts for his and his mother's herd to be amalgamated to one herd number. Judge MacBride also instructed the defendant to provide adequate fodder and housing for his cattle on his farm, which Mr Wright argued he already did.  Mr Patten suggested to the court that social services might be engaged in the case, and Judge MacBride directed that, through the gardai, Mr. Wright should be provided with some medical assistance.

  "A person in their full health wouldn't tolerate animals suffering in this way", commented the judge.

  Saying that it was "shocking what happened to these animals", Judge MacBride told Mr. Hickey that there was a simple solution for his client who could have sold some of the animals.  "Greed is worse than need", said the judge.  He adjourned the case to Monaghan District Court on 11th March and warned that if there was a willful obstruction to the court's requirements he would be imposing a custodial sentence.